© UTAA
CategoriesArchitecture

30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea

South Korea’s architectural language has developed over centuries, undergoing many evolutions and stylistic variations — many influenced by wavering politics. From the Japanese occupation to the devastating Korean War, South Korea’s urban fabric has endured many moments of unrest. The remains from times of political strife now stand alongside the nation’s contemporary architecture.

The nation’s pre-modern architecture is heavily influenced by Buddhism and Chinese design. South Korea’s mountainous landscape is home to traditional sloped-roof dwellings, temples and palaces attributed to past dynasties. Take the Changdeokgung Palace and the Haeinsa Temple, for example. These two relics are among South Korea’s 15 World Heritages Sites.

Alongside the tradition found in South Korean architecture is an astute interest in modern architecture and technology. Following the Korean War, the divide between North and South brought forth independent architectural styles. Once the dust from the wars settled and capital increased, Korean architecture flourished. A new sensibility was found — one that rejects pragmatism and encouraged experimentation and sophistication. South Korean architects began studying abroad and fusing their international perspectives with cultural tradition to breed a distinct Korean spirit. And Seoul, South Korea’s capital, has become an international stage for large-scale and impressive architectural feats.

With so many architecture firms to choose from, it’s challenging for clients to identify the industry leaders that will be an ideal fit for their project needs. Fortunately, Architizer is able to provide guidance on the top design firms in South Korea based on more than a decade of data and industry knowledge.

How are these architecture firms ranked?

The following ranking has been created according to key statistics that demonstrate each firm’s level of architectural excellence. The following metrics have been accumulated to establish each architecture firm’s ranking, in order of priority:

  • The number of A+Awards won (2013 to 2023)
  • The number of A+Awards finalists (2013 to 2023)
  • The number of projects selected as “Project of the Day” (2009 to 2023)
  • The number of projects selected as “Featured Project” (2009 to 2023)
  • The number of projects uploaded to Architizer (2009 to 2023)

Each of these metrics is explained in more detail at the foot of this article. This ranking list will be updated annually, taking into account new achievements of South Korea architecture firms throughout the year.

Without further ado, here are the 30 best architecture firms in South Korea:

30. UTAA

© UTAA

© UTAA

Managed by principal director Byungyong Choi and principal architect Changgyun Kim, UTAA is a Seoul-based architecture firm that has been  practicing since 2009. Their work is rooted in honesty, clarity and experimental organization.

Some of UTAA’s most prominent projects include:

  • Rest Hole in the University of Seoul, Seoul, South Korea
  • Black Box, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, South Korea
  • Boseong House, Boseong-gun, South Korea
  • Pinocchio, Pocheon-si, South Korea
  • Cinema House, Paju-si, South Korea

The following statistics helped UTAA achieve 30th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 5

29. Z_Lab

© KIM Jae Kyeong

© KIM Jae Kyeong

Z_Lab is a design group to create a place and space based communication with region and reflects the individual’s desire and will. We must achieve a balance of individual aspirations and regional universality in terms of the design and local identity. We create a new experience for staying out through space and personalized lifestyle brand.

We would like to contribute to give a new experience for many people beyond the geographic boundaries based on the place and space. So that our results can be created with a private transfer to local and sustainable value for the future to create a positive business model based on the person and region.

Some of Z_Lab ‘s most prominent projects include:

  • Zer0place, Seosan-si, South Korea
  • Creativehouse, Seoul, South Korea
  • Pyeongdae Panorama, Jeju-si, South Korea
  • Yuwolbyulchae, Jeju-si, South Korea
  • blindwhales, Jeju-si, South Korea

The following statistics helped Z_Lab achieve 29th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 5

28. ANM

© ANM

© ANM

Founded in 2009 by Hee Jun Kim, ANM is a Seoul-based architecture firm that emphasizes diversity and distinction while creating realistic and honest architectural relationships.

Some of ANM’s most prominent projects include:

  • Monk’s Cabin (Zen Room for a Buddhist Monk), Pyeongchang-gun, South Korea
  • House in Jeju, Jeju-do, South Korea
  • D Church, Yeoju-gun, South Korea
  • Yangpyeong House, Yangpyeong-gun, South Korea
  • Coffee House_Dong am, Yangpyeong-gun, South Korea

The following statistics helped ANM achieve 28th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 6

27. Oh jongsang

© Oh jongsang

© Oh jongsang

Based in South Korea, Oh jongsang is a architecture firm specializing in religious and residential architecture.

Some of Oh jongsang’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Oh jongsang achieve 27th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 4
Total Projects 10

26. HyunjoonYoo Architects

© HyunjoonYoo Architects

© HyunjoonYoo Architects

Founded by Hyunjoon Yoo, HyunjoonYoo Architects is a Seoul-based architecture firm specializing in public and residential architecture of all scales.

Some of HyunjoonYoo Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped HyunjoonYoo Architects achieve 26th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 6

25. DIOINNO ARCHITECTURE PLLC

© DIOINNO ARCHITECTURE PLLC

© DIOINNO ARCHITECTURE PLLC

DIOINNO Architecture PLLC is a Seoul and Buffalo-based firm founded by architects Jin Young Song, AIA.

Some of DIOINNO ARCHITECTURE PLLC’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped DIOINNO ARCHITECTURE PLLC achieve 25th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Winner 1
A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 1
Total Projects 25

24. D.LIM Architects

© D.LIM Architects

© D.LIM Architects

D·LIM is an architectural group led by its two principals, Yeonghwan Lim and Sunhyun Kim. The Seoul-based firm was founded in 2007 and specializes in private, public and corporate architecture.

Some of D.LIM Architects’s most prominent projects include:

  • Ahn Jung-geun Memorial Hall, Seoul, South Korea
  • H&M Seoul Hongdae Store, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Stardom Entertainment Office, Seoul, South Korea
  • Coconut house, Seongnam-si, South Korea
  • CJ Nine Bridges “The Forum”, Seogwipo-si, South Korea

The following statistics helped D.LIM Architects achieve 24th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 5

23. YounghanChung Architects

© YounghanChung Architects

© YounghanChung Architects

Younghan Chung architects is an architectural studio based in Seoul. The firm seeks for new typology of living in the dense and uniform picture of the city and studies experimental and creative design processes through the relationship of various phenomena of the city.

Some of YounghanChung Architects’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped YounghanChung Architects achieve 23rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 5

22. Architecture Studio YEIN

© Architecture Studio YEIN

© Architecture Studio YEIN

Based in Gangneung-si, South Korea, Architecture Studio YEIN in a boutique firm specializing in residential architecture. The firm was founded by Yesun Choi in 2003.

Some of Architecture Studio YEIN’s most prominent projects include:

  • Sushi-Hu, Noam-dong, Gangneung-si, South Korea
  • BomBom Boutique Hotel, Gangneung-si, South Korea
  • Haemutje House, South Korea
  • Dried Persimmon House, Yeondang-gil, Gangneung-si, South Korea
  • The Pencil, Hongje-dong, Gangneung-si, South Korea

The following statistics helped Architecture Studio YEIN achieve 22nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 14

21. Lee Eunseok+KOMA

Atelier KOMA is an architecture practice in Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. The firm was founded by Lee Eun Seok and specializes in residential, commercial, cultural and religious architecture.

Some of Lee Eunseok+KOMA’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped Lee Eunseok+KOMA achieve 21st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 4

20. WISE Architecture

© WISE Architecture

© WISE Architecture

WISE Architecture was established in 2008 by Young Jang and Sook Hee Chun. The specializes in small but meaningful projects that focus on the materiality of everydayness in Seoul.

Some of WISE Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

  • BOX MOBILE GALLERY, Jongno-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • ABC Building, Seoul, South Korea
  • Dialogue in the Dark Bukchon, Seoul, South Korea
  • Red Mirror Strips, Seoul, South Korea
  • Mu;M Building, Korea

The following statistics helped WISE Architecture achieve 20th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 6

19. JMY architects

© JMY architects

© JMY architects

‘Architecturing’ has two main meanings. First, it refers to the basic posture and method of constructing in a present progressive sense rather than the resultant object of an architecture. Second, it also describes the object of design as ‘a work of organizing a space’ rather than the external form. There is no end if architecture is confronted with difficulty.

Occasionally, the numerous theories and results of architectures and cities deceive our mind and disturb the liberal thoughts of our brain. Since our knowledge and experiences are limited, an attitude of learning something new and emptying our mind everyday is required. Pure intellectual curiosity, positive thinking, and attitude that can stand up to the challenges we face will broaden our knowledge and deepen our thought. It is architecturing of JMY architects to enjoy learning and doing so.

Some of JMY architects’s most prominent projects include:

  • Woljam-Ri House, South Korea
  • [5X17] Daecheong-dong Small House, Busan, South Korea
  • [Sky ground] Sinsa-dong Office Complex, Seoul, South Korea
  • [Cheonggye-ri House] Where mountains, lakes and sky meet, apparatus at the boundary and gap, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea
  • [EARNEST CAPE] The Hill where the sky and the sea take a break, Ulsan, South Korea

The following statistics helped JMY architects achieve 19th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 5
Total Projects 7

18. ON Architecture INC.

© Yoon Joon-hwan

© Yoon Joon-hwan

Based in Ulsan, ON Architecture INC. is an architecture firm that explores the function of architecture within the social and cultural phonema.

Some of ON Architecture INC.’s most prominent projects include:

  • Y-HOUSE, Ulsan, South Korea
  • Tower House, Gimhae-si, South Korea
  • Min Hwi Jeong, Ulsan, South Korea
  • Project Floor Area Ratio Game, Ulsan, South Korea
  • Double house, Ulsan, South Korea

The following statistics helped ON Architecture INC. achieve 18th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 5

17. aoa architects

© Hyosook Chin

© Hyosook Chin

Architecture is nothing. However, architecture is more significant than any others like air in our life. Architecture is not a hero. Architecture is just a stage of our living. We do not want architecture to say a lot of showing language to come forward from the surroundings. As people live healthier within clean air, we want architecture to be a clean, pure and honest artifact that holds human life silently. We do not believe architecture will change the world and we do not work in order to change the world through architecture. For now, we, aoa architects, are about to construct the architecture with architecture itself without a metadiscourse beyond architecture.

Some of aoa architects’s most prominent projects include:

  • ㄷHouse (digeut-jip), Eumseong-gun, South Korea
  • Chubby Cat House, Seoul, South Korea
  • villa mangwon – stacked house, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Malefemale House, Seoul, South Korea
  • villa Jeju, Seogwipo-si, South Korea

The following statistics helped aoa architects achieve 17th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 6

16. Archium

© Archium

© Archium

Archium Architects has been practicing architecture in the Seoul region since 1986. The firm specializes in commercial, residential and cultural design.

Some of Archium’s most prominent projects include:

  • Persona, Seoul, South Korea
  • Bauzium Sculpture Gallery, Gangwon-do, South Korea
  • Gilmosery, Seoul, South Korea
  • Khmeresque, Battambang, Cambodia
  • Himalesque, Jomsom, Nepal

The following statistics helped Archium achieve 16th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 7

15. HAEAHN Architecture

© Namsun Lee

© Namsun Lee

HAEAHN Architecture has been continuously striving to design valuable urban environmental projects based on creativity and innovation since its establishment in 1990. HAEAHN has been in alliance with H Architecture, New York, USA since 2011 and established several overseas offices which have greatly contributed to its extensive growth in becoming a world standard architectural design firm.

Some of HAEAHN Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped HAEAHN Architecture achieve 15th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 23

14. ArchiWorkshop

© ArchiWorkshop

© ArchiWorkshop

We are Architects, who think, create, enjoy and share everyday Architecture. The title ‘ArchiWorkshop’ has two meanings. One is ‘workshop of artisans’, and the other is the meaning of ‘attacking and defending to each other through discussion’. From a result perspective of view, architecture is a visual work. But at the same time, its origin accompanies philosophy and rational thinking. For that reason, we discuss and converse as much as sketching and this approach allows us for more influential operations and results. We, ArchiWorkshop, think, create, enjoy and share everyday architecture. Our ‘Everyday architecture’ has meaning of high level of architecture, namely, architecture with healthy environment and expansion of this architecture culture to more people to share.

Some of ArchiWorkshop’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped ArchiWorkshop achieve 14th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 11

13. SsD

© SsD

© SsD

SsD is an architecture firm that approaches design as a convergent, interdisciplinary venture. Minimum form takes maximum effect with the goal to bridge the utopian and the pragmatic. Instead of separating aspects of architecture, landscape, history, social systems, and codes into their constituent disciplines, these agendas are simultaneously explored so that each discipline symbiotically gains from the other.  In this way sustainability emerges as an integrated rather than additive result.

Some of SsD’s most prominent projects include:

  • Simgok, Sujeong-gu, Seongnam-si, South Korea
  • Songpa Micro-Housing, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Oasis Place
  • Big Dig House, Lexington, MA, United States
  • Braver House, Newton, MA, United States

The following statistics helped SsD achieve 13th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Finalist 3
Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 10

12. Yong Ju Lee Architecture

© Yong Ju Lee Architecture

© Yong Ju Lee Architecture

Yong Ju Lee, AIA is the principal of Seoul-based Yong Ju Lee Architecture. He has been working for stimulating design for everyday life in multiple scales and media.

Some of Yong Ju Lee Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

  • Myeonmok Fire Station, Seoul, South Korea
  • Root Bench, Seoul, South Korea
  • Hoehyeon Community, Seoul, South Korea
  • Dispersion, Suwon, South Korea
  • Wing Tower, Seoul, South Korea

The following statistics helped Yong Ju Lee Architecture achieve 12th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 8
Total Projects 9

11. OBBA

© OBBA

© OBBA

Office for Beyond Boundaries Architecture (OBBA) was founded in 2012 by Sojung Lee and Sangjun Kwak to look at various issues that arise in the rapidly changing contemporary society and the gaps between them from an integrated perspective rather than an individual perception and to pursue multiple options and mixed solutions. All projects undertaken by OBBA start with a critical view of people, architecture, and all the everyday things that interact with them. This means starting by addressing real-world problems that we are facing, rather than simply pursuing a utopian ideal.

OBBA is interested in the boundaries of each field and the boundaries between them, noticing new relationships that are not yet realized, developing expertise in various fields, speaking languages, and being a Boundary Crosser, freely crossing the boundaries of each field and trying to break away from conventional thinking. In addition, OBBA does not limit itself to one field, architecture, but crosses a wide range of scales and explores various topics to discover new possibilities.

Some of OBBA’s most prominent projects include:

  • The Vault House, Hadong-gun, South Korea
  • Beyond the Screen, Seoul, Korea, Republic of
  • The Floating Island, Bruges, Belgium
  • The Oasis, Yongin-si, South Korea
  • The Illusion, Seoul, South Korea

The following statistics helped OBBA achieve 11th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 8
Total Projects 7

10. L’EAU design Co.,Ltd.

© Kyungsub Shin

© Kyungsub Shin

L’EAU Design is a group seeking after such environment as falling under comprehensive sense and attempt the relationship with architectural design. ‘Environment’ includes meanings of social and cultural conditions that influence in human lifestyle as well as ecological and build environment.

L’EAU Design, since its establishment in 2000, has been pursuing a total design focused on architecture and urbanism, renovation and interior design, enviroment design in order to architecturally design diverse concerns amid the better ‘human environment’, which is based on our research about social and cultural background of human.

Some of L’EAU design Co.,Ltd.’s most prominent projects include:

  • Matryoshka, South Korea
  • Tropism of wild flower, Seoul, South Korea
  • Song-chu Bending Band, Yangju-si, South Korea
  • Jeju BAYHILL POOL & VILLA _ EGOISTIC CROPPING, Yeraehaean-ro, Seogwipo-si, South Korea
  • Cosmos Intime, Gwangju, South Korea

The following statistics helped L’EAU design Co.,Ltd. achieve 10th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 22

9. stpmj

© stpmj

© stpmj

stpmj is an award winning design practice based in new york and seoul. The office is founded by seung teak lee and mi jung lim with the agenda, “provocative realism”. It is a series of synergetic explorations that occur on the boundary between the ideal and the real. it is based on simplicity of form and detail, clarity of structure, excellence in environmental function, use of new materials, and rational management of budget. To these we add ideas generated from curiosity in everyday life as we pursue a methodology for dramatically exploiting the limitations of reality. From new perspectives, our work is nuanced yet bold and represents a reaction against architectural clichés.

Some of stpmj’s most prominent projects include:

  • Invisible Barn, Truckee, CA, United States
  • Shear House, Yecheon-gun, South Korea
  • Stratum House, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
  • The Surface, Gwacheon-si, South Korea
  • Dissolving Arch, Jeju-do, South Korea

The following statistics helped stpmj achieve 9th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 10

8. JOHO Architecture

© JOHO Architecture

© JOHO Architecture

JOHO Architecture is a Seoul-based architecture firm ran by principal Jeong Hoon Lee. Interpreting architecture as a part of the humanities, JOHO Architectrue bases their philosophy on creating new identity and discourse in contemporary cities. In addition, architectural materials are set as a unit of ‘geo-metry’ and designs are developed through the grouping, addition and subtraction of these units. This ‘material_metry’ refers to the reinterpretation of a material’s meaning within the context of a site.

Some of JOHO Architecture’s most prominent projects include:

  • Namhae Cheo-ma House
  • The Curving House, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
  • Casa Geometrica, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Time Stacking House, Seoul, South Korea
  • Platform-L Contemporary Art Center, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The following statistics helped JOHO Architecture achieve 8th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 12

7. BCHO Architects Associates

© BCHO Architects Associates

© BCHO Architects Associates

Founded in Seoul, Korea in 1994, BCHO Architects started as a design build office with a focus on simple structures and strong regard for nature. Since 1998 the practice focus is  architecture and furniture,   however we work very closely with contractors and multiple fabrication specialists in various disciplines; including stone masons, product designers, wood workers, potters, lighting engineers, furniture and graphic designers and artists. We also have multiple professional collaborators in Montana, Massachussetts, California, Hawaii and Peru. BCHO Architects believe that buildings, furniture and art are made, not created. Each architectural project, encompassing various scales and programs, explores the phenomenon of light and space, fabrication and construction methods , recycling and reusing, and a broad sense of sustainability (social/cultural/physical) which uses our collective creative energy to reduce our buildings demand for grid energy.

Some of BCHO Architects Associates’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped BCHO Architects Associates achieve 7th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Finalist 1
Featured Projects 10
Total Projects 11

6. Suh Architects

© Suh Architects

© Suh Architects

With every project, Suh Architects is defined by the marriage of function and verve. It does not adhere to a predetermined style, and expects its architecture to outlast current trends. Buildings must not only make sense spatially and in an intangible way, but also keep the rain out, heat in, and stay within budget. The firm is well-aware that this sort of harmony is only made possible by maintaining consistent standards and fully understanding its clients’ needs.

Its founder, Eulho Suh, is directly involved in the design and execution of each project from its initial conception, through planning, construction, and completion. With every project, spatial clarity and human scale are foremost; subsequent details are held to the highest standard of execution.

Some of Suh Architects’s most prominent projects include:

  • HYUNDAI SONGPA, Songpa-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • JEONBUK HYUNDAI MOTORS FC CLUBHOUSE, Bongdong-eup, Wanju-gun, South Korea
  • GENESIS SUJI, Suji-gu, Yongin-si, South Korea
  • GENESIS STUDIO, Hanam-si, South Korea
  • HYUNDAI MOTORSTUDIO, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The following statistics helped Suh Architects achieve 6th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Winner 4
A+Awards Finalist 3
Featured Projects 6
Total Projects 8

5. UNITEDLAB Associates

© Pace Studio

© Pace Studio

Founded in 2015 by Sang Dae Lee, UNITEDLAB (UL) is multi-disciplinary design studio providing a comprehensive suite of architecture, landscape, and urbanism services. UL has locations in New York City and Seoul. Our multi-disciplined approach reflects our belief that diverse perspectives enable a broader view that guides the design process and enriches creative insight. UL is passionate about understanding how the rich interplay of society and ideology has shaped the built environment, and in turn, how the shaped environment affects its inhabitants. We call it SCAPE.

SCAPE views the interactions between social landscapes and urban patterns as a living system that is comprised of the built environment and people. Beyond a careful observation of the physical domain, factors such as societal influences, ideologies, economics, and metaphysical idiosyncrasies inform our design work and research. Additionally, UL analyzes, researches, designs, and envisions scenarios for future cities. By bridging the boundaries between theory and practice, UL is challenging the notion of traditional typologies.

Some of UNITEDLAB Associates’s most prominent projects include:

The following statistics helped UNITEDLAB Associates achieve 5th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Winner 5
A+Awards Finalist 2
Featured Projects 7
Total Projects 4

4. Mass Studies

Photography (C) Yong-Kwan Kim - © Mass Studies

Photography (C) Yong-Kwan Kim – © Mass Studies

Mass Studies was founded in 2003 by Minsuk Cho in Seoul, Korea, as a critical investigation of architecture in the context of mass production, intensely over-populated urban conditions, and other emergent cultural niches that define contemporary society. Amid the many frictions defining spatial conditions in the twenty-first century, namely past vs. future, local vs. global, utopia vs. reality, and individual vs. collective, Mass Studies focuses on the operative complexity of these multiple conditions instead of striving for a singular, unified perspective. For each architectural project, which exist across a wide range of scales, Mass Studies explores issues such as spatial systems/matrixes, building materials/techniques, and typological divergences to foster a vision that allows the discovery of new socio/cultural potential.

Some of Mass Studies’s most prominent projects include:

  • Daum Space.1
  • Southcape Owner’s Club – Clubhouse, Yeosu, South Korea
  • Bundle Matrix: S-Trenue, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Missing Matrix Building: Boutique Monaco, Seocho-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • Ann Demeulemeester Shop, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The following statistics helped Mass Studies achieve 4th place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

A+Awards Winner 1
Featured Projects 9
Total Projects 9

3. Moon Hoon

© Namgoong Sun

© Namgoong Sun

Moon Hoon is a Korean architect based in Seoul. Moon Hoon is known for his playful and artistic architecture that often experiments with color and geometry.

Some of Moon Hoon’s most prominent projects include:

  • Two Moon, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
  • Vi-sang House, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
  • Busan Times, Busan, South Korea
  • Simple House, Jeju-si, South Korea
  • Wind House, Jeju-si, South Korea

The following statistics helped Moon Hoon achieve 3rd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 16
Total Projects 12

2. IROJE KHM Architects

© IROJE KHM Architects

© IROJE KHM Architects

IROJE KHM Architects is an award-winning architect’s office in Seoul, Korea. Kim Hyo Man, the principal of IROJE KHM Architects is architect, concurrent professor of graduate school of architecture and editorial adviser of an architectural magazine.

Some of IROJE KHM Architects’s most prominent projects include:

  • Ga On Jai, Kwangmyŏng, South Korea
  • HWA HUN, South Korea
  • Kyeong Dok Jai, Goyang-si, South Korea
  • Tetris Nursery, Dobong-gu, Seoul, South Korea
  • STELLA FIORE, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, South Korea

Top image: Flying House by IROJE KHM Architects, Incheon, South Korea 

The following statistics helped IROJE KHM Architects achieve 2nd place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 16
Total Projects 20

1. Studio Gaon

© Studio Gaon

© Studio Gaon

studio_GAON is a Seoul-based architecture practice founded by architects Lim Hyoungnam + Roh Eunjoo Architect. The firm specializes in residential, cultural and commercial design.

Some of Studio Gaon’s most prominent projects include:

  • Jetavana Buddhist Temple, Nam-myeon, Chuncheon-si, South Korea
  • Casa Gaia, Gujwa-eup, Jeju-si, South Korea
  • House of January, House on the Demarcation, Deokjin-gu, Jeonju-si, South Korea
  • House of San-jo, Buk-gu, Gwangju, South Korea
  • Lucia’s earth, Kongju, Korea, Republic of

The following statistics helped Studio Gaon achieve 1st place in the 30 Best Architecture Firms in South Korea:

Featured Projects 28
Total Projects 41

Why Should I Trust Architizer’s Ranking?

With more than 30,000 architecture firms and over 130,000 projects within its database, Architizer is proud to host the world’s largest online community of architects and building product manufacturers. Its celebrated A+Awards program is also the largest celebration of architecture and building products, with more than 400 jurors and hundreds of thousands of public votes helping to recognize the world’s best architecture each year.

Architizer also powers firm directories for a number of AIA (American Institute of Architects) Chapters nationwide, including the official directory of architecture firms for AIA New York.

An example of a project page on Architizer with Project Award Badges highlighted

A Guide to Project Awards

The blue “”+”” badge denotes that a project has won a prestigious A+Award as described above. Hovering over the badge reveals details of the award, including award category, year, and whether the project won the jury or popular choice award.

The orange Project of the Day and yellow Featured Project badges are awarded by Architizer’s Editorial team, and are selected based on a number of factors. The following factors increase a project’s likelihood of being featured or awarded Project of the Day status:

  • Project completed within the last 3 years
  • A well written, concise project description of at least 3 paragraphs
  • Architectural design with a high level of both functional and aesthetic value
  • High quality, in focus photographs
  • At least 8 photographs of both the interior and exterior of the building
  • Inclusion of architectural drawings and renderings
  • Inclusion of construction photographs

There are 7 Projects of the Day each week and a further 31 Featured Projects. Each Project of the Day is published on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Stories, while each Featured Project is published on Facebook. Each Project of the Day also features in Architizer’s Weekly Projects Newsletter and shared with 170,000 subscribers.

 


 

We’re constantly look for the world’s best architects to join our community. If you would like to understand more about this ranking list and learn how your firm can achieve a presence on it, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at editorial@architizer.com.

Reference

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
CategoriesArchitecture

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct dynamic volumes

The House in Jurmala by Chado responds to the natural context

 

Nestled amidst a grove of ancient pines, The House in Jurmala by architectural studio Chado effortlessly responds to the surrounding landscape and Latvian climate. Facing southward, its facade embraces the views, while the rugged texture of concrete walls forms a unique composition. The formation of a planted patio cuts through the structure separating the private sleeping zones from the common living spaces. The building unfolds two volumes, each boasting a distinct height and purpose. The lower part hosts the children’s and guests’ rooms, while the upper volume reveals a large living room, dining area, kitchen, and master bedroom.

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
all images by Alvis Rozenbergs

 

 

design composes an interplay of concrete forms and volumes

 

Within the heart of the house, the central public area exudes an intriguing contrast to the monumental volumes of the private spaces. Here, the console roofing boldly extends, creating dynamic cantilevers. As an elegant focal point, a vertical fireplace tube provides the area with a sense of verticality and warmth. The design team at Chado composes an interplay of forms and volumes developing a harmonious design narrative, where the concrete embraces the landscape responding to the natural context.

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
the structure is nestled amidst a grove of ancient pines in Jurmala

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
the architecture effortlessly responds to the surrounding landscape

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
the rugged texture of concrete walls forms a unique composition

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
the formation of a planted patio cuts through the concrete structure

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
the concrete embraces the landscape responding to the natural context

concrete residence in latvia unfolds two distinct volumes with dynamic cantilevers
the glazed atrium separates the private sleeping zones from the common living spaces

Reference

Wooden soffit and curved roof with snow drifts
CategoriesArchitecture

Stephane Gaulin-Brown places curved roof on Quebec chalet

Montreal architect Stephane Gaulin-Brown has placed a single-slope roof with a curved soffit on top of a ski chalet to open it up to the forests of Mont Tremblant, Quebec.

Completed in 2023, the house – entitled Élément Tremblant – is a 1,400-square foot (130-square metre) retreat that recalls the glitz of the region’s classic ski culture with a contemporary twist.

Wooden soffit and curved roof with snow drifts
Stephane Gaulin-Brown created a chalet in Quebec

“The suave adventurous spirit of the early pioneers like Stan Ferguson and Hans Falkner, as well as 1940’s après-ski paintings…served as inspiration for the design.” Stephane Gaulin-Brown said. “The design also grew out of the natural context: the ferns, the birch trees, the deer, and the large glacial boulders strewn across the forest floor.”

The primary feature is a long shed roof with an ochre-coloured wooden soffit that curves from the exterior wall up to the edge of the cantilever. The roof references a traditional Quebecois roof form with up-curved ends and gives a sense of lightness to the chalet “like it was rising up in the air”.

Wooden roof with windows to an interior sauna
Wooden beams wrap the exterior

The tongue-and-groove wood of the soffit turns down the wall to form the upper portion of the facade. Below it, black board and batten siding clads the exterior walls between large, black-framed windows.

The house is organized in a simple double-loaded bar. The entry, secondary bedrooms and bathrooms are aligned facing down the sloped site, while the primary bedroom and open-plan kitchen, dining room and living area form a band that looks up the slope to the forest vista dotted with glacial boulders.

Curved roof with snow drifts
The roof slopes up to let in light and views

On the southeast corner, the windows peak and wrap around a spa. Meanwhile, the northeast corner is subtracted with a small porch off the primary bedroom.

The interiors centre the open living space, which is wrapped in warm stain-resistant Russian plywood and copper-toned metal panels that bounce light from thin, suspended fixtures.

Wooden interior of a sloped living room with steel fireplace
The living areas include plywood and a powder-coated steel fireplace

The sloped roof forms a trapezoidal space that peaks at 12 feet, but the wall of windows is capped just above the average height of a person.

Poured concrete forms a solid base for the powder-coated steel fireplace – a high-efficiency model manufactured locally by Stûv – and flat storage cabinet that rounds the corner to the primary suite.

“Recessed uplit LED lighting along the length of the main living space adds drama, ultimately making the living room into a kind of film set ready for après-ski hangouts,” Gaulin-Brown said.

In the kitchen, thin black hardware and square tile accent the warm wood cabinetry and white countertops.

Glass windows with views of snow in the kitchen
Large glass windows frame the kitchen

“Historical images, sourced with permission from the National Library of Québec, are framed around the house to make the sense of history visceral,” Gaulin-Brown explained. “In the master bedroom, a historical photo of the original Mont Tremblant steam train is printed on a large scale across the whole wall.”

The exposed concrete floor conceals a radiant heating system that warms the house and serves as a heat sink in the winter.

Bathroom with white walls and concrete floors
The house has a radiant heating system in the flooring

In a similar black and warm wood palette, YH2’s Quebec ski chalet also draws in light with an upward-sloping roof, but the Laurentian mountain house employs a V-shaped profile, lifting the roof on both sides like wings.

The photography is by Stephane Gaulin-Brown and Valerie Lacroix.


Project credits:
Client: Alex Roy
Contractor: Daniel Brisson
Designer: Stephane Gaulin-Brown



Reference

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by Zahner
CategoriesArchitecture

An Architect’s Guide To: Graphic Perforated Metal Panels

Architectural innovation and creativity go hand in hand. Designers are constantly seeking new ways to push boundaries, challenge norms, and create buildings that resonate with places and people. One material that is increasingly being harnessed to this end is perforated metal, with a multitude of high-tech systems now available to architects looking for customizable wall and façade solutions.

One such example is the ImageWall system by Zahner, a renowned engineering and fabrication company with a long-standing reputation for its work with architects. Developed specifically for perforated metal panels, it offers a range of diverse qualities for projects across typologies and climates.

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by ZahnerZahner became known for advanced metal surfaces and systems with both functional and ornamental forms. With ImageWall, Zahner has created a system that offers design versatility to make immersive experiences. With its accessible design tools, affordability, and wide range of applications, the perforated metal panel system empowers designers and architects to bring their visions to life.

Whether used in commercial, hospitality, retail, or residential settings, this material provides a customizable canvas for integrating backlighting, materials, and graphics. In this guide, we’ll explore the creative potential of perforated metal panel systems like ImageWall, from the design process to technical detailing and application.


Conceptualization: Pushing the Boundaries of Design

Perforated metal wall panels animation ImageWall by ZahnerOne of the most remarkable aspects of the ImageWall system is its accessibility to designers. Gone are the days of tedious back-and-forth communication. With this system, designers can now conceptualize and design directly within an intuitive online visualizer tool on the Zahner website.

This streamlines the design process and empowers architects to bring their visions to life more efficiently than ever before. The accessibility provided by the system fosters a greater sense of creative freedom, allowing designers to experiment, iterate, and explore a multitude of design options.

Design With ImageWall

Recently, Zahner Labs has further developed the system with ImageLines — an additional customization for generating perforated images. As the team explains, perforations are positioned by an array of customizable lines or curves, while perforation size is driven by a source image. Try it out; it’s easy to upload an image to the configurator and see how ImageLines takes perforated façades to the next level.


Technical Details: Streamlined Installation and Pre-Engineered Elements

The ImageWall perforated metal panels not only look beautiful, but also allow for more streamlined detailing. Through the use of pre-engineered elements and easy-install systems, the cost and lead times are significantly reduced compared to traditional custom solutions. This makes affordability a key advantage offered by Zahner’s system.

Their product also allows clients with tighter budgets to benefit from the company’s reputation for quality craftsmanship and design expertise. In turn, the evolution from custom projects to a pre-engineered product demonstrates Zahner’s commitment to making cutting-edge design accessible to a wider audience.

Download ImageWall Details

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by ZahnerFrom sleek and modern metals like stainless steel and aluminum to warm and inviting materials like pre-weathered weathering steel and copper, ImageWall provides architects and designers with a wide selection of options to suit their desired aesthetic.

Additionally, the system can incorporate other materials such as glass, ceramics, or options like recycled materials, ensuring that each project can be uniquely tailored to meet the specific design requirements and desired visual impact. The versatility in material choices offered enables the creation of customized architectural elements that seamlessly integrate into a design.


Applications: Versatility Across Architectural Typologies

At its heart, Zahner’s system has wide-ranging applications across architectural typologies. From commercial buildings to hospitality spaces, retail environments to multi-unit residential common areas, ImageWall seamlessly integrates with other building systems, structures, and assemblies.

This adaptability makes it a valuable tool for architects and designers working on a diverse range of projects. Whether it’s an eye-catching façade for a high-end hotel, an immersive retail environment, or a statement piece in a public space, the system offers endless possibilities for enhancing the appeal of a structure, entry or interior.


Creative Possibilities: Enhancing Design with Light, Materials, and Graphics

ImageWall offers a myriad of creative possibilities, including lighting options, material choices, and graphic integration. Backlighting adds a whole new dimension to architectural design, bringing depth, texture, and visual interest to spaces.

Perforated metal wall panels ImageWall by ZahnerWith a vast array of materials to choose from, architects can find the perfect match for their desired aesthetic, whether it be sleek and modern or warm and organic. The graphic options also enable the integration of custom patterns, logos, or artwork, allowing architects to create truly unique and memorable spaces that leave a lasting impression.


Case Studies: Showcasing the Power of ImageWall

To appreciate the capabilities of perforated metal panels, there are many noteworthy case studies. For example, the ImageWall system was employed only a short walk from Canada’s Parliament buildings in Ottawa, Ontario, where the team of B+H Architects and Morguard collaborated with Zahner to enhance the experience of entering their office complex at 350 Sparks. The installation of custom perforated wall art showcases the journey along the Ottawa River adjacent to Parliament Hill. Zahner supplied 1,563 visible square feet of aluminum panels and associated sub-framing for the installation.

Zahner also collaborated on the Legacy Pavilion for The Equal Justice Initiative. The Pavilion, designed by Williams Blackstock Architects, is the EJI Museum campus’ new building. Zahner engineered and fabricated the custom Angel Hair stainless steel that clads the exterior of the building, which depicts the iconic images of several local civil rights activists that inspire hope for equal justice. In a similar way, two ImageWall murals clad the east and north sides of 1256 Penn Ave, featuring individual portrait panels of renowned local civil rights activists that helped shape the culture of Minneapolis.

These case studies demonstrate how Zahner’s perforated metal panel system can be utilized by architects to enhance their designs. Its adaptability, material options, and creative possibilities have allowed architects to push boundaries and transform their visions into new landmarks.

Explore More Projects

ImageWall represents the evolution of architectural solutions, bridging the gap between visionary concepts and practical implementation. Its accessibility to designers, affordability, wide range of applications, and design potential make it a versatile and valuable tool for architects and designers alike.

As Zahner continues to push boundaries and redefine what is possible in architectural design, the system stands as a testament to their ability to transform visionary concepts into innovative architecture products and systems.

Learn more about ImageWall here, start designing your own custom perforated panel here, and reach out to Zahner’s specialists about your next project here.

Reference

Alberghi Diffusi: Architects Should Embrace Italy's Decades-Old Design Concept
CategoriesArchitecture

Alberghi Diffusi: Architects Should Embrace Italy’s Decades-Old Design Concept

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

Across the iridescent olive groves, vine-laden hills and skyline of sunflowers that intertwine to become the breathtaking Italian countryside, there lies a number of rural gems unblemished by modernity. Their façades bare the marks of many lives lived, and their cobblestone streets chatter with centuries of traditions and tales. While you venture through the quiet alleys, under clotheslines laden with laundry, you’ll find the remarkable concept of “alberghi diffusi” — Italy’s answer to sustainable tourism.

An idea that expertly juxtaposes the past with the present, marrying rustic charm with modern luxury, preserving heritage while showcasing rural sophistication. Here, amongst the charm and romanticism of rural Italy, hospitality takes on a different meaning: it’s not about visiting, it’s about belonging, and these “scattered hotels,” a constellation of repurposed dwellings, are the lifeblood of these otherwise semi-deserted hamlets. As more and more architects embrace adaptive reuse and renovation is increasingly celebrated as preferable to new-builds, Italy’s model for sustainable tourism is set to gain further traction beyond the Mediterranean country’s borders. 

Santo Stefano di Sessanio Village, Abruzzo, L’Aquila, Italy. Photograph by Stefano Pellicciari

The albergo diffuso model is by no means a new concept. It was initially conceived in the late 1970s or early 1980s (an exact year cannot be pinpointed). Some attribute the model to the aftermath of the May 1976 earthquakes, when the idea was utilized to revitalize the impacted villages and was then later championed by Giancarlo Dall’Ara, a pioneering figure who is now-President of the Alberghi Diffusi National Association.

The philosophy of the albergi diffusi model is rooted in the notion that a hotel’s room should not have to be contained within a single structure but, in fact, can be spread throughout the houses and buildings of an entire town, and it is the service and amenities in the proximity to the room that establishes it as being part of a hotel.

Cividale del Friuli, Italy Photograph by milosk50

A “scattered hotel,” as it translates in English, creates visitor accommodation by reusing and restructuring existing properties, with one crucial factor — it must be located around an inhabited town center. It is the inhabitants of the albergo diffuso that serve as the draw for the guests that are so enthralled by these places in their search for authentic experiences.

In the heart of Friuli Venezia Giulia, the model found fertile ground in Comeglians, a village of approximately 400 inhabitants that became one of Italy’s first albergo diffuso’s. By the mid-1990s, under careful orchestration and with cooperation from the residents, a transformative project began to unfurl. A handful of the nearly 300 houses, left vacant after a decades-long exodus of youth searching for urban opportunities, were repurposed into an albergo diffuso. This revitalization not only safeguarded the village’s heritage but also reinvigorated the local economy by creating jobs and stimulating tourism that continues to thrive to this day.

Santo Stefano di Sessanio, Abruzzo, Italy. Photograph by Giulio Benzin

Meanwhile, down in the rugged terrain of Abruzzo, the town of Santo Stefano di Sessanio harbored a latent opportunity despite its population dwindling to under 100 by the late 1990s. Swedish-Italian entrepreneur Daniele Kihlgren, recognizing the town’s potential, made considerable investments to meticulously restore its ancient, stone-walled structures. The project, which converted 27 medieval buildings into 27 rooms of the Sextantio Albergo Diffuso, not only rekindled the town’s historic charm but also spawned a variety of jobs, reducing unemployment and re-populating this once-deserted gem.

Santa Caterina dello Lonio, Catanzaro, Calabria, Southern Italy. Photograph by Fabio

The tale took a southern twist in Sicily, where the historic borough of Borgo Santa Caterina witnessed a similar resurgence. Here, the alberghi diffusi’s model breathed new life into the town’s decaying structures, emblematic of diverse eras, including the Arab, Norman and Byzantine epochs. The regeneration of these architectural marvels into Albergo Diffuso Borgo Santa Caterina attracts a steady stream of tourists, bolstering the local economy and enhancing the livelihood of its residents, who had endured years of economic stagnation. These enduring transformations underscore the alberghi diffusi’s ability to fuse architectural preservation with socio-economic regeneration.

Corippo, Verzasca valley, Switzerland. Photograph by fotoember

The ripple effects of this ingenious model are palpable even beyond the Italian borders, in Switzerland’s Verzasca Valley, further underscoring its potential as a global blueprint for rural revitalization, in the Italian-speaking canton of Ticino, renowned for its emerald-green river flowing past miles of winding canyons, lofty peaks and forests. Corippo, a tiny 800-year-old hamlet of handcrafted stone homes, rises nearly 2,000 feet (610 meters) above the valley floor, and in June 2022, Corippo became the home of Switzerland’s first certified albergo diffuso. The lodging is part of a multiyear plan to preserve and revitalize the medieval village hit hard by depopulation, which follows the all-too-familiar story where its inhabitants have emigrated to other parts of the world in search of a better life.

Corippo’s new albergo diffuso consists of ten cozy rooms spanning five restored residences. Adjacent to the main piazza is a terraced osteria (restaurant) with sweeping canyon views that doubles as a lobby. Distinctive architectural details, such as original exteriors and dimensions, were preserved using local materials and traditional methods.

Labro, Rieti, Latium, Italy. Photograph by e55evu

Beyond Corippo’s historical significance and ideal landscape for outdoor activities, its appeal is its sense of solitude. Locarno’s promenade of boutiques, cafes, and Lugano’s art museums and galleries are a magnet to all who visit the secluded yet stunning secret.

Sauntering through these resilient, reborn hamlets, we can encounter an enduring testament to the power of sustainable innovation with the Alberghi Diffusi model. These scattered hotels are not merely establishments offering accommodation; they are a vibrant tapestry of community life, a profound immersion into authentic Italian culture and heritage.

Each albergo diffuso emerges as a phoenix from the ashes of urbanization and economic stagnation. They are the robust threads reconnecting frayed populations, providing gainful employment and a renewed sense of pride in the people of their historical legacy. In this innovative reinterpretation of hospitality, we find the courage of countless small towns standing tall against time, breathing new life into their narrative, heritage and future.

Architects: Want to have your project featured? Showcase your work through Architizer and sign up for our inspirational newsletters.

Reference

these fire lookout lodging towers in idaho offer an elevated and immersive forest experience
CategoriesArchitecture

‘moonpass lookouts’ in idaho offer an elevated forest experience

‘moonpass lookouts’ by airbnb superhost kristie wolfe 

 

Kristie Wolfe is a renowned figure in the Airbnb community, celebrated for her skills in creating some of the world’s most unique and captivating properties. Over the past decade, she has established herself as an Airbnb superhost, garnering thousands of five-star reviews for her inventive accommodations. Wolfe’s portfolio includes off-grid hobbit holes, Hawaiian treehouses, and even potato-shaped abodes. The superhost has now turned her attention to ‘MoonPass Lookouts’. Nestled in the enchanting woodland of Wallace, Idaho, this project offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with nature and history while embarking on a unique elevated lodging adventure.

these fire lookout lodging towers in idaho offer an elevated and immersive forest experience
all renderings © Karl Kevin Lacorte

 

 

five custom-built towers offering total immersion and privacy 

 

Set on a sprawling 222,577 sqm property, Kristie Wolfe’s (see more here) latest work takes shape as five custom-built fire lookout towers, soaring 9 meters in the air, and a museum. Each tower has a smart glass roof for stargazing without light pollution and on warmer days, the glass can turn opaque and block out 99% of UVA rays. Complementing the glazed top are 360-degree windows offering uninterrupted views of the natural world without compromising guests’ privacy; Wolfe notes that all towers are effectively spaced apart for maximum solitude amid the woodland setting. As an added perk, guests can enjoy the forest sounds through a custom-built amplifier for greater immersion. 

 

Lodging amenities include a fully-equipped kitchen, a wood-burning stove, a full-sized bed and bathroom, and a private sauna. Lastly, the towering hotel is pet-friendly, allowing visitors to bring their furry friends to their ‘MoonPass Lookouts’ adventures.

these fire lookout lodging towers in idaho offer an elevated and immersive forest experience
‘MoonPass Lookouts’ offers total privacy amid the forestscape

 

 

from hiking and fishing to historical tours 

 

When it comes to adventures, the getaway offers a range of adrenaline-pumping and leisurely activities. These include hiking along the nearby Pulaski trail; traversing the renowned Hiawatha trail on two wheels; fishing at Placer Creek or the hotel’s onsite pond; taking scenic snowy rides on a Snowcat in winter; and finally, indulging in a historical experience by visiting the city of Wallace, Idaho. Speaking of history, the city holds significance as the starting point of the Great Fire of 1910, also known as the ‘Big Burn’, which remains one of the largest forest fires in U.S. history. As part of the ‘MoonPass Lookout’ property, guests will have the opportunity to explore The Fire Lookout Museum, which showcases the history and impact of this devastating event.

these fire lookout lodging towers in idaho offer an elevated and immersive forest experience
each structure is custom built

 

 

One of the notable figures from the Great Burn is Ed Pulaski, a hero who led his firefighting crew to safety in a mine shaft. You can embark on a beautiful 5-mile hike from our MoonPass property to visit this mine shaft, paying homage to Pulaski’s bravery and the event’s historical significance. Adding to the unique experience, our fire lookout towers stand as reminders of the past against this historical backdrop. Including the fire museum and rich historical context add an educational element to your unforgettable journey at ‘MoonPass Lookouts’. As you explore, you can learn about the past and appreciate the heroic efforts that shaped the region,’ writes Wolfe. 

these fire lookout lodging towers in idaho offer an elevated and immersive forest experience
the getaway offers a range of nature-infused activities

 

 

book your stay at ‘moonpass lookouts’ via indiegogo 

 

Currently, ‘MoonPass Lookouts’ is raising funds on its Indiegogo crowdfunding platform. Availability is limited, and priority to booking is based on access level and length of stay. By supporting the campaign early and opting for a more extended stay, visitors will be eligible for early access (once the campaign ends and the hotel stay reservation date portal is available). Reservations have no expiration date, so if you’re unsure of your dates right away, you can book your stay date in the future. To secure your position as a future guest at ‘MoonPass Lookouts’, support the Indiegogo campaign where you can learn more about booking and prices. 

 

Reference

Norway's first treetop walkway
CategoriesArchitecture

EFFEKT creates treetop walkway accessible to “all nature lovers”

Architecture studio EFFEKT has completed Norway’s first treetop walkway, which winds up through Hamaren Activity Park in Fyresdal and ends at a circular viewpoint.

Raised 15 metres high in the air, the platform was designed with a gentle incline accessible to people of all ages and physical abilities, as well as cyclists, pushchairs and wheelchairs.

Norway's first treetop walkway
EFFEKT has completed Norway’s first treetop walkway

“The treetop walk in Hamaren Activity Park offers all nature lovers, regardless of age, disability or physical limitation, a new perspective on the natural landscape of Fyresdal,” said Danish studio EFFEKT.

“It grew out of a heartfelt desire to give all people, regardless of physical abilities, the sensational feeling of walking amongst the treetops.”

Aerial view of Hamaren Activity Park in Norway
It winds up through Hamaren Activity Park in Fyresdal

Hamaren Activity Park opened in Fyresdal in 2017. Alongside the new treetop walk, it has cycling and nature trails, and facilities for activities including trampolining and climbing.

The treetop walkway is one kilometre in length and is placed along the ascent of Klokkarhamaren – a hill with an elevation of 338 metres.

Aerial view of Hamaren Activity Park treetop walkway by EFFEKT
It is built from pinewood

Visitors to the walkway are guided from the pine forest floor, along past a lake and up between the treetops to the summit of Klokkarhamaren.

At the end of the trail, EFFEKT has incorporated a circular viewpoint that measures 50 metres in diameter and provides a panoramic view of the natural landscape surrounding it.

Aerial view of Hamaren Activity Park treetop walkway by EFFEKT
It ends at a circular viewpoint

“Reconnecting with nature is an important part of the great change we are undergoing now,” studio co-founder Tue Foged told Dezeen.

“Although being a small gesture in the bigger picture, we hope that granting people free and universal access to experience the sublime nature of this site, can serve as an example for others.”

Walkway through pine forest
The walkway weaves through a pine forest

The structure is two metres wide throughout most of its length but widens into balconies at certain points to spotlight specific views or provide rest areas. It is raised on pillars that align with “the natural curves and gradients of the terrain”.

Its boardwalk-like appearance was made from locally sourced pinewood, chosen to blend in with the surroundings.

“It uses only small and straight prefabricated elements that can easily be handled with small machinery and by hand on-site to protect nature during the building process,” explained Foged.

“When joined together the segments form an organic shape that bends around the trees and along the mountain,” he said.

“The structure literally blends in with existing trees on the mounting, sometimes giving the visual impression that the boardwalk levitates through the forest.”

Hamaren Activity Park treetop walkway
It is designed to blend with its surroundings

This structure was developed by EFFEKT in collaboration with local contractor Inge Aamlid.

According to the team, this was to ensure the design also nodded to the area’s history of pinewood construction by using local craftsmanship techniques.

Treetop walkway by EFFEKT
It begins at the forest floor

“The region has a long history with logging and tradition of building with pinewood structures,” said Foged.

“The premise of the design was, therefore, to use the local predominant material of the pine tree. Pinewood is used as the loadbearing structure as well as the boardwalk and railing,” he explained.

Wooden walkway
It follows the ascent of Klokkarhamaren

Based in Copenhagen, EFFEKT is an architecture studio founded by architects Sinus Lynge and Foged in 2007.

Other projects by the studio include Camp Adventure, a spiralling tower in the midst of a forest, and the transformation of an abandoned windmill factory into a skatepark and youth centre.

The photography is by Rasmus Hjortshøj.

Reference

Sustainable Practice: An Inside Look at the Zero Waste Design for The Greenhouse Theatre
CategoriesArchitecture

Sustainable Practice: An Inside Look at the Zero Waste Design for The Greenhouse Theatre

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season? Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.

Necessity is the mother of invention, and it has plenty to answer for in design and architecture. This is immediately evident at The Greenhouse, a zero-waste theatre complete with performance space, standalone screening room, bar and box office

Visiting three prime spots in London this summer, the first run, at Royal Docks, was part of Sea Change, a cultural program about climate. Next, the space holds a residency at Canary Wharf, from 19th June until 14th July, before finishing at Battersea Power Station between 7th August and 3rd September. A striking, if understated, approach to experimental venue design, the venue is hand-built from recycled and reused materials. After revealing his background in site-specific productions, Artistic Director Oli Savage tells Architizer how the idea came about.

“Around 2016, a close friend, collaborator and colleague of mine put a script on my desk all about eco-terrorism, Swallows. It was a metaphor for violence towards each other and towards the planet by Henry Robert, a really talented writer. I’m interested in space and how a space can make the show work. And from a practice perspective, I’m interested in working holistically. To me, if you’re putting on a show, it’s important that everything around that show reflects the ideas of what that show is talking about. You’d feel a little hypocritical working on a climate piece and having lots of impact and waste,” says Savage.

 The Greenhouse is the UK’s first zero waste theatre (C) The Greenhouse Theatre

“A couple of years later, we’re on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh for the Fringe Festival, our show was A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Standing in the pissing rain, handing out flyers to promote the performance, I said to our head of marketing: ‘Surely this isn’t actually a very effective way of getting people through the door’. She said: ‘No, and it causes a lot of waste.’ I started digging into this, and it’s astounding how much waste is created, most of which isn’t recyclable,” he continues. “This is particularly evident in fringe arts.”

With the script for Swallows still in mind, Savage began brainstorming with collaborators, trying to figure out how the show could run at the Edinburgh Fringe and stay true to its climate message. Soon realizing there was no existing facility that could tick all necessary boxes, a decision was made to create a new space. Returning to the Scottish capital twelve months on, The Greenhouse debuted in 2019 with Swallows finally staged and, as Savage puts it, “has been on and off” since.

The Greenhouse Theatre under construction in London, 2021 (C) The Greenhouse Theatre

“I just say to people come and see the space,” Savage replies when we ask about the green credentials. “I’d say it’s obvious when you’re inside — this is not making claims that can’t be backed up. In terms of design principles, we were determined to show the materials being using, so the waste is showcased front line for people to see for themselves. And we’re a zero waste theatre, that’s the terminology. There are differences between this and, say, carbon neutral. So all the materials had a life before us, and will hopefully have another life once we’re finished.

“Broadly, the whole thing is built from three materials. Timber framing and wood pallet cladding, around a triangular lighting truss skeleton. The roof is made from corrugated PVC,” he explains. “As you’re designing, you’ve got to be thinking, if we want this to be zero waste, what materials do we have access to? How are we going to be able to deliver this in a zero waste way. Another interesting thing was our first situation for the venue didn’t have the possibility of any power. So we came to this conclusion it needed to be naturally lit with a clear plastic roof. That’s now one of my favorite aspects of the venue.”

The Greenhouse Theatre at Canary Wharf, London

The Greenhouse Theatre at Canary Wharf, London (C) The Greenhouse Theatre

For Savage, The Greenhouse Theatre design is all about dialogue between different demands. The requirements stipulated by the project itself — zero waste, low impact — and the need to develop a space suitable for creative practice. Form meeting function deep in the grass roots.

“It was also a necessity for me that it was in the round. That was a big thing. If I’m working in a theatrical space, it has to be either in the round or traverse. It creates this sense of community,” says Savage, pointing out all this is replicable. “Reclaimed timber is easy to come by. There are lots of facilities around the UK, recycling centres that take surplus timber from sites, clean it, then sell it on. Most are charities, awesome organizations. The trussing was from a lady who used it for trade shows, retired and sold it to us for a really good price. The plastic, I think it was a builder who bought it for a project that was cancelled or over-ordered.”

“The headline is that it’s not that hard. It seems like it’s challenging, but so much theatre, at university for example, relies on borrowing and reuse,” he adds. “We have a consultancy, working with filmmakers, other theatre makers, creatives, to help them towards zero waste. There’s a lack of provision for fringe artists in terms of this type of thing. It’s tricky, though. One of the hardest things is a lot of people expect work for free… Obviously, my goal as a person is to have the most impact and help. But the reality is some try to take advantage… If we can’t monetize, I’m not going to have a business, and we’re not gonna be able to run.”

Architizer is thrilled to announce the winners of the 11th Annual A+Awards! Interested in participating next season? Sign up for key information about the 12th Annual A+Awards, set to launch this fall.

Reference

CategoriesArchitecture

yangnar studio repurposes local wood for home in thailand forest

chiang mai valley forest engulfs ing-suk house

 

Nestled amid a serene valley forest in Chiang Mai, Yangnar Studio’s Ing-Suk House sits elevated above compacted soil-lifted ground, reminiscent of the traditional ‘Kha-Nham’ shelters for gardeners found in southern Thailand. Showcasing experimental design solutions amid budget and accessibility limitations, the architects have repurposed local antique finds and wood from the surroundings to craft the small wooden house with meticulous detail. Notably, the architects have adapted old wooden pillars from vernacular houses in the Vietnam zone to merge with the site’s stone steps, welcoming visitors and residents as they enter the space. Across the exterior, interior, and decorative details, wood has been left primarily untreated to embrace the beauty of its natural textures and meld the home with its rich natural context.

ing suk house 11
all images by Rungkit Charoenwat

 

 

yangnar studio infuses flexibility within the compact space

 

The Ing-Suk House sits engulfed in greenery at the entrance of the Obkhan National Park. Stepping inside its compact wooden form, the home offers a flexible interior to adapt to versatile living conditions, as an extension of the mixed-use surrounding area. Central to the design is an elongated terrace which serves as a connecting element between various sections of the house while ensuring privacy. With staircases on both sides, it facilitates movement while providing elevated seating arrangements. Additionally, a raised den serves as a versatile space in front of the main room, distinct from the secondary space.

 

Yangnar Studio’s experimental design concept and skillful woodworking follows as result of resolving constructing in remote conditions and with a limited budget. The archictectural team opted to preserve the wood’s natural essence by avoiding chemical coatings, emphasizing its raw beauty. The main building materials were locally sourced, while recycled elements gathered from material shops, such as old wooden doors, windows, and steel tube profiles, were seamlessly incorporated into the design. From Ing-Suk House’s roof pole and fall protection railings to the interior decoration, these antique market finds were thoughtfully arranged for both decorative and functional use. 

yangnar studio repurposes local antiques and wood for compact home in thailand forest

ing suk house 8

Reference

Aerial view of the nieghbourhood with foothills in the background
CategoriesArchitecture

GAF applies solar-reflective coating to mitigate Los Angeles heat islands

American roofing firm GAF has completed the first phase of a public-private initiative that seeks to mitigate urban heat in Los Angeles through solar-reflective coating.

The GAF Cool Community Project completed the first phase of their public project in Los Angeles’ Pacoima, covering asphalt roads and public areas in a 10-block radius to see if a reflective coating might reduce the effects of urban heating.

Aerial view of the nieghbourhood with foothills in the background
GAF installed thousands of square feet of solar-reflective coating to public areas in Los Angeles

Members of the GAF team and its street coating arm Streetbond worked with NGOs and city officials including the Global Cool Cities Alliance, Climate Resolve, and the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Service to coat over 700,000 square feet (65,032 square metres) of the neighbourhood’s pavement.

The project was initiated to mitigate the heat in heavily paved neighbourhoods, a problem in urban areas sometimes referred to as “heat islands”.

Playground with colourful solar-reflective coating
The initiative is called the GAF Cool Community Project

“This is one of the hottest neighborhoods in Los Angeles,” said Streetbond general manager Eliot Wall.

“There’s not a lot of alternative solutions. There are not a lot of shade structures. There are not a lot of trees – things that we also believe are necessary to help combat this – but this was something that without any other structural changes you could do tomorrow.”

Basketball court with solar-reflective coating in blue and tan
The coating was applied to a 10-block radius

Because asphalt needs to be sealed and coated in dark colours to reduce tire marks and glare, it traps heat and holds it at street level.

The team’s solution was to paint over roads, parking lots and recreational areas with a proprietary coating that the company says may reduce the heat effect by 10-12 degrees Fahrenheit (5.5-6.6 degrees Celsius). The coating comes in a variety of different colours, with brighter colours used for recreational areas and dark ones for the roads.

The coating can be applied directly on top of preexisting asphalt. It can be applied by hand or by a paint-spraying machine.

Ball court with solar reflective coating
The coating reflects sun and mitigates the heat island effect

Instead of simply lining sections of street with the product, the team wanted to test how the coating could affect the ambient temperature of the neighbourhood as a whole.

Some of the more recreational areas within the project’s scope, such as a basketball court and public park, were coated with colourful paint mocked up in patterns approved by the residents and a mural by local artist Desiree Sanchez was commissioned to be completed with the coating.

Aerial view of basketball court
Community members were consulted on a series of designs for the public park

Phase one of the project was completed last year and now the team is utilising a variety of measuring systems to monitor the heat in the neighbourhood as the summer approaches. Wall said that the felt effects of the coating are “pretty much instantaneous”.

“The community members themselves are saying it feels cooler,” he said.

Since the application last summer, the team has noted not only a drop of up to three degrees Fahrenheit (1.6 degrees Celsius) but changes in temperature downwind from the coated area.

Wall ball court with solar-reflective coating
The team is testing the effects of the coat through monitoring systems

GAF director of building and roof science Jennifer Keegan added that there could added benefits from cooling large urban areas beyond the experience on the street.

Typically, the conversation around cooling technologies is limited to the application of materials on roofs and for cooling inside buildings, but paved public spaces present opportunities for bringing down the heat in the area in general.

“Not only are we helping the environment with that perspective of reducing the urban heat island effect, and if we keep our cities cooler, we’re reducing our carbon footprint,” she said.

Wall and Keegan said that the initiative hopes to expand the procedure to other areas that suffer from the heat island effect.

Sports field with solar-reflective coating
Residents have already commented on reduced temperatures

Other products that have been introduced to help reduce heat include a “chameleon-like” facade material developed by researchers at the University of Chicago.

Last year, Dezeen contributor Smith Mordak put together a guide for different strategies to reduce urban heating, read it here.

The photography is courtesy of GAF.

Reference